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Title: Genome-wide association study of offspring birth weight in 86 577 women identifies five novel loci and highlights maternal genetic effects that are independent of fetal genetics.
Author: Beaumont RN, Warrington NM, Cavadino A, Tyrrell J, Nodzenski M, Horikoshi M, Geller F, Myhre R, Richmond RC, Paternoster L, Bradfield JP, Kreiner-Møller E, Huikari V, Metrustry S, Lunetta KL, Painter JN, Hottenga JJ, Allard C, Barton SJ, Espinosa A, Marsh JA, Potter C, Zhang G, Ang W, Berry DJ, Bouchard L, Das S, Early Growth Genetics (EGG) Consortium, Hakonarson H, Heikkinen J, Helgeland Ø, Hocher B, Hofman A, Inskip HM, Jones SE, Kogevinas M, Lind PA, Marullo L, Medland SE, Murray A, Murray JC, Njølstad PR, Nohr EA, Reichetzeder C, Ring SM, Ruth KS, Santa-Marina L, Scholtens DM, Sebert S, Sengpiel V, Tuke MA, Vaudel M, Weedon MN, Willemsen G, Wood AR, Yaghootkar H, Muglia LJ, Bartels M, Relton CL, Pennell CE, Chatzi L, Estivill X, Holloway JW, Boomsma DI, Montgomery GW, Murabito JM, Spector TD, Power C, Järvelin MR, Bisgaard H, Grant SFA, Sørensen TIA, Jaddoe VW, Jacobsson B, Melbye M, McCarthy MI, Hattersley AT, Hayes MG, Frayling TM, Hivert MF, Felix JF, Hyppönen E, Lowe WL, Evans DM, Lawlor DA, Feenstra B, Freathy RM.
Journal: Hum Mol Genet; 2018 Feb 15; 27(4):742-756. PubMed ID: 29309628.
Abstract:
Genome-wide association studies of birth weight have focused on fetal genetics, whereas relatively little is known about the role of maternal genetic variation. We aimed to identify maternal genetic variants associated with birth weight that could highlight potentially relevant maternal determinants of fetal growth. We meta-analysed data on up to 8.7 million SNPs in up to 86 577 women of European descent from the Early Growth Genetics (EGG) Consortium and the UK Biobank. We used structural equation modelling (SEM) and analyses of mother-child pairs to quantify the separate maternal and fetal genetic effects. Maternal SNPs at 10 loci (MTNR1B, HMGA2, SH2B3, KCNAB1, L3MBTL3, GCK, EBF1, TCF7L2, ACTL9, CYP3A7) were associated with offspring birth weight at P < 5 × 10-8. In SEM analyses, at least 7 of the 10 associations were consistent with effects of the maternal genotype acting via the intrauterine environment, rather than via effects of shared alleles with the fetus. Variants, or correlated proxies, at many of the loci had been previously associated with adult traits, including fasting glucose (MTNR1B, GCK and TCF7L2) and sex hormone levels (CYP3A7), and one (EBF1) with gestational duration. The identified associations indicate that genetic effects on maternal glucose, cytochrome P450 activity and gestational duration, and potentially on maternal blood pressure and immune function, are relevant for fetal growth. Further characterization of these associations in mechanistic and causal analyses will enhance understanding of the potentially modifiable maternal determinants of fetal growth, with the goal of reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with low and high birth weights.

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